Device to hasten the opening of a dry pipe valve



Oct. 1,1940. w GROTLISCH 2,216,568 DEVICE T0 HASTEN THE OPENING OF A DRY RIPE VALVE Filed June 15, 1939 RCE 0F ELECTRIC ENERGY 110 VOLT SOU JUNCTION BOX Patented Oct. 1, 1940 in." 5 r DEVICE T0 HASTEN THE OPENING OF A DR PIPE VALVE 5 Claims;

This invention relates to a type of device intended for hastening the operation of a dry pipe valve, used in connection with a dry pipe sprinkler system.

A system of this type is one in which a. portion of the piping is filled with compressed air, which holds in a closed position a valve common- 1y called a dry pipe valve.

When the air under pressure in the system is released through the opening of a sprinkler head, due to fire or other cause, the dry pipe valve opens and allows water to fiow into the piping formerly filled with air and discharges through the open sprinkler head.

The usual amount of air pressure carried in such systems is approximately forty (40) pounds while the air pressure at which the dry pipe valve operates allowing the Water to enter the dry pipe portion of the system is twelve (12) pounds. It is very desirable therefore to shorten the time ensuing between the opening of a sprinkler head and the normal operation of the dry pipe valve. This is the purpose of my opening device which operates as follows:

Through a drop of air pressure in the system, an air pressure electric switch operates to close an electrical circuit, thereby energizing a heating coil. This coil when heated, fuses or releases a link which in its unfused position, has held in a closed position, a weighted quick opening water valve. The opening of this water valve allows water from below the water clapper in the dry valve to enter the dry pipe valve, into the space between the water and the air clappers in the valve which space is known as the intermediate or neutral chamber. When water pressure has thus been equalized above and below the water clapper of the dry pipe valve, the water pressure automatically opens both the water and air clappers and water enters the dry portion of the system.

Other obJects of my invention will appear during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing and in the specifications, like numerals are employed to designate like parts.

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a dry pipe valve and control valve, a part of a sprinkler system, showing also my opening device attached.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of my opening device but not attached as above.

In Figure l of the drawing, the numeral I denotes a dry pipe valve which may be one of the various well known types.

2 is a control valve whereby the water to the system can be shut off.

3, a pipe which with valve 2 in the open position, allows water as far as the water clapper 20 in the dry pipe valve. 5

4 is a piping of the system filled with air under forty (40) pounds pressure and including the space above the air clapper 2|.

The operation of my opening device which operates the dry valve l, is as follows: 10

Electric air pressure switch 5 (which may be any well known type) is connected through pipe l3 with pipe 4, a portion of the system containing air under pressure. When there is a drop in the air pressure in the system it is detected by air pressure electric switch 5, which automatically closes the electric circuit. Current then flows through wires 12 to heating element coilB. Coil 6 is held rigid to a portion of pipe M by pipe clamps. Extending up through the center, or between coil wires in coil 6, is a fuse link I5, which is held in a rigid position by set screw 86 at the top of the coil. The lower end of the fuse link is bent to form a hook which engages an eye I! threaded into 9 which is the 25 weighted (weight'No. l) handle of a well known quick opening water valve, No. 8. When handle Q is held in the upward position by the fuse link I 5, the valve is closed.

The electric circuit having been closed as pre- 30 viously described, the fuse link is fused by the heat from coil 6, weighted handle 9 of valve 8 drops by gravity. This opens water valve 8 allowing water in pipe M, which is connected to 3, or water side of dry pipe valve, to enter the 35 intermediate or neutral chamber of dry valve. When water enters this intermediate or neutral chamber of the dry valve the pressure becomes equal above and below the water clapper 20. When this equalization of pressure has taken place, the water automatically throws open water clapper 20 and air clapper 2| allowing the water torush into the system and out of the sprinkler headswhich may have been opened. I 45 Simultaneously with the operation of the water valve 8 through the fusing of the fuse link i5, current is out off from the heating oil 6 in the following manner-An ordinary single pole toggle switch It) is connected by a chain i8 through a threaded eye l9, in weighted handle 9. Consequently, when the handle 9 is released as Previously described, this action opens switch l0.

Electric air switch 5, heating coil 6, and switch ID are connected in series.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a pipe having one end in communication with a source of water under pressure, a housing communicating with said pipe, a water clapper valve in said housing for closing said pipe from said housing at times, an air clapper valve inside said housing and positioned beyond said water clapper valve, a second pipe communicating with the inside of said housing at a point beyond said air clapper valve and designed to be connected with a water sprinkling system; said second pipe being normally in communication with a source of air under pressure, a third pipe having one end in communication with said first pipe and its other end in communication with said housing at a point beyond said water clapper valve, a valve imposed in said third pipe, a lever capable of opening said valve when in lowered position, a weight connected to said lever for yieldingly holding said lever in a lowered position, an electrical heat coil, a fusible element adjacent said coil having one end secured to a supporting member and its other end to said lever for holding said lever in an upward position, an electric circuit connected to said coil and designed to be in communication with a source of electrical energy, and an air pressure switch imposed in said electric circuit and in communication with said second pipe.

2. In combination with a pipe having one end in communication with a source of water under pressure, a housing communicating with the inside of the same, a pressure valve inside said housing and a second pipe communicating with the inside of said housing at a point beyond the valve and designed to be connected with a water sprinkling system normally under a source of air under pressure, equipment to hasten the opening of said valve comprising, a third pipe having one end in communication with the inside of said first pipe and its other end in communication with the inside of said housing at a point beyond said valve, a valve imposed in said third pipe, a moveable member capable of moving to a lowered position by force of gravity for opening said last mentioned valve at times, an electrically heated element, a fusible element adjacent said element having one end secured to a support member and its other end secured to said moveable member for normally holding said moveable member in an elevated position, an electric circuit connected to said electrically heated element and designed to be in communication with a source of electrical energy, and an air pressure switch imposed in said electric circuit and in communication with said second pipe.

3. In combination with a pipe having one end in communication with a source of water under pressure, a housing communicating with the inside of the same, a pressure valve inside said housing and a second pipe communicating with the inside of said housing at a point beyond the valve and designed to be connected with a water sprinkling system normally under a source of air under pressure, equipment to hasten the opening of said valve comprising, a third pipe having one end in communication with the inside of said first pipe and its other end in communication with the inside of said housing at a point beyond said valve, a valve imposed in said third pipe, a movable member capable of moving to a lowered position by force of gravity for opening said last mentioned valve at times, an electrically 1 heated element, a fusible element adjacent said element having one end secured to a support member and its other end secured to said moveable member for normally holding said moveable member in an elevated position, an electric circuit connected to said electrically heated element and designed to be in communication with a source of electrical energy, an air pressure switch imposed in said electric circuit and in communication with said second pipe, a switch imposed in said circuit, and a means for operatively connecting said moveable member with said switch.

4. In a device of the class described, a pipe having one end in communication with a source of Water under pressure, a housing communicating with said pipe, a water clapper valve in said housing for closing said pipe from said housing at times, an air clapper valve inside said housing and positioned beyond said water clapper valve, a second pipe communicating with the inside of said housing at a point beyond said air clapper valve and designed to be connected with a water sprinkling system; said second pipe being normally in communication with a source of air under pressure, a third pipe having one end in communication with said first pipe and its other end in communication with said housing at a point beyond said water clapper valve, a valve imposed in said third pipe, a lever capable of opening said valve when in lowered position, a weight connected to said lever for yieldingly holding said lever in a lowered position, an electrical heat coil, a fusible element adjacent said coil having one end secured to a supporting member and its other end to said lever for holding said lever in an upward position, an electric circuit connected to said coil and designed to be in communication with a source of electrical energy and an air pressure switch imposed in said electric circuit and in communication with said second pipe, a switch imposed in said circuit, and a means for operatively connecting said switch to said lever.

5. In a device of the class described, a pipe having one end in communication with a source of water under pressure, a housing communicating with said pipe, a water clapper valve in said housing for closing said pipe from said housing at times, an air clapper valve inside said housing and positioned beyond said water clapper valve, a second pipe communicating with the inside of said housing at a point beyond said air clapper valve and designed to be connected with a water sprinkling system; said second pipe being normally in communication with a source of air under pressure, a third pipe having one end in 5 communication with said first pipe and its other end in communication with said housing at a point beyond said water clapper valve, a valve imposed in said third pipe, a lever capable of opening said valve when in lowered position, a weight connected to said lever for yieldingly holding said lever in a lowered position, an electrical heat coil, a fusible element adjacent said coil having one end secured to a supporting member and its other end to said lever for holding said lever in an upward position, an electric circuit connected to said coil and designed to be in communication with a source of electrical energy, an air pressure switch imposed in said electric circuit and in communication with said second pipe, a switch imposed in said circuit, and a flexible member having one end connected to said switch and its other end operatively connected to said lever.

ALVIN W. GROTLISCH. 

